Standards

Child Safe

The past week has seen the Board and staff engaged in important conversations aimed at strengthening our practice. On the 16/3/18 we participated in a forum on the Child Safe Standards now in force in Victoria. These standards are intended to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse by raising awareness at all levels across the agency. The seven standards cover a range of areas from policy, culture, recruitment, supervision to a workplace where concerns are raised and the voice of children are heard. (Click here to see the Standards.)

Aboriginal Wellbeing Cultural Competence

At the Board meeting on the 22/3/18 the Koolin Balit Aboriginal Wellbeing Cultural Competence Action Plan 2018-2020 was adopted. We are committed to improving safe cultural practice for Aboriginal clients, and enhancing service access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. We articulate this commitment by including it in our Strategic Planning Pillars.

We are most grateful for the suport and guidance of former Board member Judith Ahmat in developing our plan. Judith Ahmat is a proud Gunditjmara woman and has been an active member of the Wodonga Aboriginal Community and across the Goulburn and Ovens Murray areas. Judith is currently the Director of Watnanda Consulting which specialises in Social research, Reconciliation Action Plans, and Aboriginal Cultural Competence.

It’s worth noting that at the Child Safe Standards forum, Aboriginal children were among the most vulnerable groups (along with children from a CALD background and those with a disability).

A great night was had by around 200 people at the SSA club on Friday the 16th March. An evening of fine food and fun entertainment, capped by a successful auction to raise funds for UMFC kept everyone thoroughly engaged.
A big thank you to our major sponsors the SSA, Dutch Media, 2AY and all the businesses that supported the evening by attending and donating auction items. I know all our staff and Board members in attendance were humbled by the goodwill and contributions toward our cause.
Many thanks to great people like Scott Andrews, auctioneer extraordinary and outstanding MC, Kylie King, who worked hard all night to make the occasion the success it was. To see some photos of the evening click http://umfc.com.au/photos/

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UMFC acknowledges the support of the Victorian and the Australian Governments

Commitment to Child Safety

All children and young people who access UMFC Services have a right to feel and be safe and to be treated with respect. We are committed to providing a welcoming and safe environment and working towards the best interests of children and young people at all times.